Tamping apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus suitable for tamping a mass of fibrous material such as raw cotton generally including an elongated support unit adapted to be positioned in an upright position, adjacent a container loaded with such material, a base arm unit pivotally connected to the free end of the support unit, means operatively interconnecting the support unit and the base arm unit for pivoting the base arm unit relative to the support unit, an extension arm unit pivotally connected to the base arm unit, and a plate unit pivotally connected to a free end of the extension arm unit, the plate unit having a broad contact area for engaging the material being tamped.

United States Patent 1191 Muzzi et a1.

14 1 Mar. 19, 1974 TAMPING APPARATUS [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 229,445

3.691.967 9/1972 Mettetal 100/100 681.715 9/1901 Layne 94/49 3.376.799 4/1968 Perry et al. 94/49 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10/1958 France 212/35 R France Australia 100/ 1 0O Prima'ry Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Assistant Examiner-Philip R. Coe

[57] ABSTRACT An apparatus suitable for tamping a mass of fibrous material such as raw cotton generally including an elongated support unit adapted to be positioned in an upright position, adjacent a container loaded with such material, a base arm unit pivotally connected to the free end of the support unit, means operatively interconnecting the support unit and the base arm unit for pivoting the base arm unit relative to the support unit, an extension arm unit pivotally connected to the base arm unit, and a plate unit pivotally connected to a free end of the extension arm unit, the plate unit having a broad contact area for engaging the material being tamped.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TAMPING APPARATUS This invention relates to a tamping apparatus and more particularly to a novel attachment for a vehicle such as a tractor for tamping a fibrous material such as recently picked cotton. The invention further contemplates an attachment for a vehicle such as a tractor for tamping raw cotton loaded in a cotton trailer having an open upper end.

In the harvesting of a cotton crop, it has been the general practice to load cotton picked in the fields in trailers having open upper ends, which are utilized for transportating the cotton from the fields to subsequent handling and processing locations. Due to the fibrous nature of cotton, in order to provide maximum loading of cotton in such trailers, it has been the conventional practice in the past to tamp the cotton in the trailers. This usually has been achieved by field workers who simply would pack the cotton by stamping on it with their feet. Such practice has been foundto be unsatisfactory in that it has been found to be unsafe, time consuming and ineffective, and, therefore, likely to increase production costs.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novelapparatus for packing a fibrous material such as cotton.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tamping apparatus. w

A further object of thepresent invention is to provide a novel apparatus for tamping a fibrous material loaded in a trailer having an open upper end.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for. tamping cotton loosely deposited in a cotton trailer having an open upper end.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a vehicle such as a tractor for tamping a fibrous material such as cotton, loosely de posited in a trailer having an open upper end.

, A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment mountable on a tractor for tamping a fibrous material such as cotton, loosely deposited in a trailer having an open upper end, which can be operated conveniently and efficiently by the vehicle operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tamping apparatus which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, efficient and effective in performance, and readily adapted for servicing.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art towhich the present invention pertains, from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

tachably mountable on the vehicle, a base arm unit pivotally connected to free end of the support unit, means operatively interconnecting the support unit and the base arm unit for pivoting the base arm unit, an extension arm unit pivotally connected to the base arm unit, and a plate unit pivotally connected to a free end of the extension arm unit, the plate unit having a broad contact area for engaging the material being tamped.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes means for limiting the angular displacement for the base arm unit relative to the support unit, and means for limiting the angular displacement of the extension arm unit relative to the base arm unit, thus providing a structure having a substantially inverted, J-shaped configuration whereupon operation of the means for pivoting the base arm unit, the depending portion of the: structure including the plate unit will be caused to reciprocate substantially vertically. In addition, in such prefered embodiment, the means for pivoting the base arm unit comprises a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder assembly, the plate unit includes a plurality of spaced, elongated bars, and the support unit includes ground engaging legs for stabilizing the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment consists of an apparatus 10 mounted on a tractor l1 and operable to tamp a mass of recently picked cotton 12 loaded in a cotton trailer 13. The tractor 11 is of a conventional construction and is provided with a three-point hitch at the rear end thereof consisting of a pair rearwardly projecting, lower lifting arms l4, l4 anda rearwardly projecting, upper lifting arm 15 to which the tamping apparatus 10. may be detachably secured. The cotton trailer 13 also is ofa conventional construction, generally including a pair of wheel units 16, 16, and a container body 17 mounted on the wheel units. The container body generally is rectangular in shape, having a floor 18 a pair of side walls 19, 19 and a pair of end walls 20, 20, providing a rectangular opening 21 at the upper end thereof.

The tamping apparatuslfl consists of a support unit 22, a base arm unit 23 pivotally connected on the free end of the support unit 22, a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder assembly 24 operatively interconnecting the support unit 22 and the base arm unit 23, which is operated by a fluid control system 25, an extension arm unit 26 pivotally connected on the end of the base arm unit 23, and a plate unit 27 pivotally connected on a free end of the extension arm unit 26. The support unit 22 includes an elongated tubular member 28, a cross piece member 29 rigidly secured intermediate the endsof thereof to the lower end of the elongated member 28, a pair of leg members 30 and 31 depending from the ends of the cross piece member 29,.and a pair of diagonal brace members 32 and 33 interconnecting the ends of the cross piece member 29 and the elongated member 28. Although the members 28 through 33 are illustrated as tubular members having a substan tially square cross-sectional configuration, such members can be constructed of any appropriate crosssection and material. As illustrated, it is preferred that the tubular members be welded together to provide the support unit 22.

The support unit 22 is detachably secured to the tractor 11 by means of a pair of clevises. 34 and 35 which may be connected to the lower lifting arms 14 of the tractor by means of suitable connecting pins, and a clevis 36 disposed on the elongated member 28 below the connection thereof with the brace members 32 and 33, which is adapted to be connected to the upper lift arm of the tractor similarly by means of a suitable pin connection. It will be appreciated that the entire tamping apparatus may be lifted by means of the lifing arms 14 and 15 whenever it is desired to relocate the apparatus, and also lowered so that a pair of pads 37 and 38 provided on the lower ends of the leg members and 31 will engage the ground to seat the apparatus and stabilize it during operation. The cross piece member 29 further is provided with a bracket 39 to which there is detachably connected a retainer chain 40 which also is connected to a stationary hitch 41 on the tractor.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the free end of the elongated member 28 is formed as a clevis 42 to which the base arm unit is pivotally connected as .will later be described. The elongated member 28 further is provided with a pair of brackets 43 and 44, intermediate the ends thereof, to which the lower end of the assembly 24 is connected.

The base. arm unit 23 consists of an elongated tubular member 45 having a substantially square crosssectional configuration, and a pair of brackets 46 and 47 secured to the sides of the member 45 and extending both below and rearwardly thereof. The'clevis end 42 of member 28 is received between the bracekts 46 and 47 so that the openings therein may be aligned with a pair of openings 48 in the brackets 46 and 47 to receive a pivot pin 49 therethrough to pivotally connect the base arm unit 23 is displaced angularly relative to the support unit 22 by means of the assembly 24 which includes a fluid cylinder 50 and a piston 51 slidably disposed within the cylinder 50. The free end of the piston 51 is provided with. a fixture 51a having an opening therein aligned with a pair of openings 52 at the rear ends of the brackets 46 and 47 to receive a pivot pin 53 therethrough thus pivotally connecting the end of the piston 51 to the end of the base arm unit 23. Similarly, the cylinder 50 is provided with a fixture 50a at the lower end thereof, having an opening aligned with a pair of openings 53 in the brackets 43 and 44 which receive a pin therethrough, pivotally connecting the cylinder 50 with the support unit 22.

The piston and cylinder assembly 24 is operated by the fluid control system 25 which includes a fluid reservoir 54, a pump 55 and a two-way valve 56. The circuit for the system 25 consists of a suction line 57 interconnecting the reservoir 54 and the pump 55, a pressure line 58 interconnecting the pump 55 and the two-way valve 56, a return line 59 interconnecting the two-way valve and the reservoir 54, a fluid line 60 interconnecting the valve 56 and the upper end of the cylinder 50, and a fluid line 61 interconnecting the lower end of the cylinder with the valve 56. It will be appreciated that by operating the pump 55 and manipulating the valve 56 fluid under pressure will be supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder 50, in the conventional manner, to extend and retract the piston 51 and, correspondingly, displace the base arm unit 23 relative to the support unit 22. The angular displacement of the base arm unit 23 relative to the support unit 22 is limited by means of a pin 62 disposed within align openings 63 in brackets 46 and 47, which is adapted to engage the front side of the support unit 22 when the piston 51 is extended.

The extension arm unit 26 is similar in construction to the base arm unit 23 and consists ofa tublar member 64 having a substantially square cross-sectional configuration, and a pair of brackets 65 and 66 which are secured to the sides of the member 64 and project both downwardly and rearwardly. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the forward end of the elongated member 45 of unit 23 is formed as a clevis 67 which is received between the bracekts 65 and 66 of unit 26, and is provided with openings which are aligned with a pair of openings 68 in the brackets 65 and 66 to receive a connecting pin 69 therethrough and pivotally connect the unit 26 on the forward end of the base arm unit 23. The angular displacement of 'the extension arm unit 26 relative to the base arm unit 23 is limited by means of a pair of brace members 70 and 71 pivotally connected at one pair of ends to the upper end of the elongated member 28, below the pin connection 49, by means of a pin 72, and pivotally connected at the other pair of ends to the brackets 65 and 66, below the pin connection 69, by means of a pin 72a. I

The plate unit 27 consists of a centrally disposed beam member 73, a pair of angle-shaped members 74 and 75 disposed in spaced relation on opposite sides of the I-beam member 73, and a plurality of depending bars 76 spaced parallel along the lengths of the members 73 and 75 and rigidly secured by welding to the undersides thereof, providing a broad cotton engaging area. The forward end of members 64 of unit 26 is formed as a clevis 77 which is received between a pair of brackets 78 and 79 disposed on the upper side of I- beam member 73, intermediate the ends thereof, having openings aligned with a pair of openings 80 in the brackets 78 to 79 to connect the plate unit 27 to the free end of the extension arm of unit 26 by means of a connecting pin 81 passing through the aligned openings. It will be noted that the pivotal connection between the plate unit 27 and the extension arm unit 26 permits the plate unit to swing freely in a vertical plane, and the weight of the plate unit fuctions to rotate the arm extension member clock-wise relative to FIG. 1, the angular displacement being limited by the brace members 70 and 71. Also as illustrated in FIG. 1, the plate unit is substantially symmetrical relative to the axis of the connection with the extension arm unit 26 i to cause the plate member to maintain a horizontal attitude during substantially all phases of its operation. Preferably, the plate unit is constructed of a heavy material such as steel to provide a sufficient gravitational force to assist in the packing of the fibrous material loaded in the trailer 13, when the unit is being lowered.

In the operation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the apparatus attached to the lifting arms 14 and 15 of the tractor 11, is positioned adjacent a side 19 of a trailer 13 so that the plate unit 27 is disposed above the opening 21 in the container 17 loaded with cotton. The lifting arms 14 and 15 are then lowered so that the pads 37 and 38 of leg members 30 and 31 engage the ground to seat the support unit 22 and stabilize the entire apparatus. With the apparatus thus positioned, the operator on the tractor would then manipulate the operating lever for the valve 56 to alternately supply fluid under pressure to the cylinder 50 on opposite sides of the piston 51, and, correspondingly, cause the piston 51 to reciprocate. As the piston 51 reciprocates, the base arm unit 23 will be caused to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the support unit 22, and, correspondingly, the extension arm 26 will be caused to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly to move the plate unit 27 down through the opening 21 into the container 17, into and out of engagement with the mass of cotton 12, to provide a tamping action. As previously stated, the symmetry and weight of the plate unit 27 will cause it to maintain a horizontal attitude and tamp the mass of cotton 12 within the container as the unit is moved upwardly and downwardly.

It is contemplated the the fluid control system 25 would be mounted on the tractor 11 with the control handle of the valve 56 located at a convenient location near the other controls for the tractor. This then would permit the operator for the vehicle to position the apparatus adjacent a cotton trailer, and simple manipulate the control handle for the valve 56 to tamp the mass of cotton within the container of the trailer.

With the valve 56 positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1, fluid under pressure will be supplied from the pump 55 through fluid pressure line 58, valve 56 and fluid line 60 to the upper end of the cylinder 50 to retract the piston 51 and thus position the plate unit 27 in the position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1. Excess fluid in the lower end of the cylinder 50 and line 61 will flow through fluidline 61, valve 56 and return line 59 to the reservoir 54. When the valve is rotated 90, fluid under pressure will be supplied by the pump 55 through pressure line 58, valve 56 and fluid line 61 to the lower end of the cylinder 50, the extend the piston 51 and thus cause the plate unit 27 to be moved to the positionillustra'ted by phantom lines in FIG. 1. Excess fluid in the upper end of cylinder 50 and line 60 will be caused to return to the reservoir 54 through fluid line 60, valve 56 and return line 59. Consequently, by operating the valve 56 to alternately supply fluid under pressure'to, the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 50, the plate unit 27 will be caused to reciprocate vertically thus providing the desired tamping action.

Whenever a cotton trailer has been filled completely, the apparatus may be moved to a different location simply by positioning the valve 56 as illustrated in FIG. 1 to move the plate unit 27 to its uppermost position, actuating the appropr ate controls on the tractor to lift the lift arms 14 and 1S, and then driving the tractor to the new location.

The components of the tamping apparatus can be constructed of any suitable material and the apparatus within the province of those skilled in the art. However,

it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims:

I claim:

1. An apparatus mountable on a vehicle such as a tractor for tamping a mass of fibrous material such as raw cotton comprising an elongated support unit detachably mountable on said vehicle, a base arm unit pivotally connected to a free end of said support unit, means operatively interconnecting said support unit and said base arm unit for pivoting said base arm unit relative to said support unit, an extension arm unit freely pivotally suspended from the free end of said base arm unit, and a plate unit freely pivotally sus pended from the free end of said extension arm unit, said plate unit having a mass sufficient to bias said base arm unit and plate unit downwardly and having a broad contact area for engaging the material being tamped whereby upon operation of said means for pivoting said base arm unit, said plate unit will be caused to reciprocate substantially vertically.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting said base arm unit comprises a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder assembly.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein and plate unit includes a plurality of spaced, elongated bars.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plate unit is disposed substantially symmetrically relative to the connection thereof with said extension arm unit.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support unitincludes ground engaging legs for stabilizing said apparatus. 

1. An apparatus mountable on a vehicle such as a tractor for tamping a mass of fibrous material such as raw cotton comprising an elongated support unit detachably mountable on said vehicle, a base arm unit pivotally connected to a free end of said support unit, means operatively interconnecting said support unit and said base arm unit for pivoting said base arm unit relative to said support unit, an extension arm unit freely pivotally suspended from the free end of said base arm unit, and a plate unit freely pivotally suspended from the free end of said extension arm unit, said plate unit having a mass sufficient to bias said base arm unit and plate unit downwardly and having a broad contact area for engaging the material being tamped whereby upon operation of said means for pivoting said base arm unit, said plate unit will be caused to reciprocate substantially vertically.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting said base arm unit comprises a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder assembly.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein and plate unit includes a plurality of spaced, elongated bars.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plate unit is disposed substantially symmetrically relative to the connection thereof with said extension arm unit.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support unit includes ground engaging legs for stabilizing said apparatus. 